Needlework technique using ribbon

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a technique analogous to needlepoint employing a ribbon and a needlework canvas. The ribbon is worked through the mesh openings of the canvas to lay a multiplicity of flat untwisted sections along perpendicular axes to completely cover the canvas between suitable margins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The technique of needle working yarn or thread onto a needlework canvasor linen is quite well developed and is the hobby or avocation of alarge group of people. The most analogous conventional needleworkstitches to this invention are known as a bargello stitch, a brickstitch, a basketweave stitch and a continental stitch. A description ofa bargello stitch is found in Lee Wards, Complete Library ofNeedlecraft, Fuller & Dees, 1975, page 413. A description of brick,continental and basketweave stitches is found in Basic NeedlecraftStitches, Fuller & Dees, 1974, pages 24-27. In all of these stitches,the yarn exposed on the front of the needlework canvas is more-or-lessaligned with the axis of the mesh openings rather than diagonal acrossthe axis of the mesh openings. As is true in all of these type stitches,the yarn contains split threads on the back of the canvas resulting frompassing the needle from the canvas front, piercing a yarn segment on thecanvas back and drawing a length of yarn through the yarn segment on theback. Similarly, one characteristic of conventional needlepoint is thatno concern is given to the orientation of the yarn on the canvas frontbecause yarn is necessarily generally cylindrical or has no predominateaxis transverse to the length of the yarn. As will become more fullyapparent hereinafter, needleworking with ribbon requires that attentionbe given to the orientation of the ribbon sections appearing on thecanvas front in order to provide a pleasing appearance. In addition, thesplitting of ribbon on the canvas back is impermissible because any suchdeformation of the ribbon on the canvas back results in deformation ofthe ribbon segments visible on the canvas front thereby substantiallydetracting from the appearance of the finished piece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a technique for making aneedleworked ribbon piece.

Another object of this invention is to provide a needleworked ribbonpiece.

In summary, the needleworked ribbon piece is produced by threading aribbon through the openings in a canvas mesh to leave flat untwistedribbon sections exposed on the canvas front. The exposed ribbon sectionsrun along perpendicular axes corresponding to the axes of the meshopenings in the needlework canvas. To create such a needlework piece, aribbon is passed from the canvas back to the canvas front through anentry mesh opening, is drawn along one of the axes and is passed fromthe canvas front to the canvas back through an exit mesh opening whichis separated from the entry opening by one or more intermediateopenings. The ribbon is manipulated and tensioned to lay a flatuntwisted ribbon section across the intermediate opening on the canvasfront. This technique is repeated to lay a multiplicity of ribbonsections along the perpendicular mesh axes. When completed, the ribbonsections extend in the directions of both mesh axes and completely coverthe front of the needlework canvas between suitable margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the front of a completed needlework piece inaccordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view illustrating the path of the ribbon whenconducting the stitch illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view illustrating the front of a needlework pieceemploying a somewhat different stitch;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view illustrating the path of the ribbon whencreating the needlework piece of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the ribbon path of the stitch ofFIGS. 3 and 4 in a greater areal extent;

FIG. 6 is a view of the front of another needlework piece illustratinganother stitch; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view illustrating the ribbon path when creatingthe stitch of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a needlework piece 10 comprises a needleworkcanvas 12 and a ribbon 14 threaded through the openings of the canvas 12by the use of a needle 16 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.As used herein, the term needlework canvas is intended to encompass anymesh fabric, such as linen, suitable for needlework.

The needlework canvas 12 is of generally conventional design comprisinga multiplicity of generally perpendicular relatively stiff strands 18,20 of any suitable material joined at the intersections 22 thereof inany suitable manner. The strands 18, 20 define a multiplicity ofgenerally identical substantially square openings in the canvas 12 whichhave a length 24 no longer than the width 26 of the ribbon 14. Inrelatively large mesh canvas, for example where the openings are lessthan about 0.1 inches on a side, the openings tend to have roundedcorners and are consequently only substantially square. In any event,the term substantially square is intended to include the opening formedby a multiplicity of generally perpendicular strands. As will be morefully pointed out hereinafter, the ribbon width 26 may be in the rangeof 1-3 times the opening length 24 and is preferably in the range of1.1-2.2 times the opening length 24. The sides of the mesh openingsextend along generally perpendicular x and y mesh axes 30, 28.

As will be more fully apparent hereinafter, the ribbon is selected to beof such a width when, in the completed condition of the needlework piece10, the ribbon covers the strands 18, 20 making up the canvas 12.Accordingly, it may be more appropriate to consider that the ribbonwidth is at least as great as the distance 32 between the center lines34 of adjacent strands 18, 20. As will be more fully apparenthereinafter, particularly in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7, the ribbonwidth 26 may be somewhat greater than the distance 32 between adjacentcenter lines 34. It accordingly appears that the ribbon width 26 shouldbe in the range of 1-1.7 times the center line distance 32 and ispreferably in the range of 1-1.4 times the center line distance 32.

As is apparent from the completed needlework piece 10 illustrated inFIG. 1, the ribbon 14 comprises a plurality of flat untwisted firstribbon sections 36 on the front of the canvas 12 extending in thedirection of the y axis 28. In the completed needlework piece 10, theribbon 14 also comprises a multiplicity of flat untwisted secondsections 38 on the front of the canvas 12 and extending in the directionof the x axis 30. In the stitch of FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and secondribbon sections 36, 38 span a substantial distance across the canvas 12and are merely interwoven rather than extended through the canvas 12inside the margins of the piece 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the stitch of FIG. 1 is illustrated on a somewhatdifferent scale although like reference characters are used to designatelike elements. The laying down of the first ribbon section 36 isaccomplished by threading the ribbon 14 through the canvas 12 in thedirection illustrated by the arrows beginning with the arrow 40. Theribbon 14 is passed from the back of the canvas 12 through an initialentry opening 42 and spans a number of intermediate openings 44 beforepassing from the canvas front to the canvas back through an exit opening46. The ribbon 14 is pulled tight and is then twisted on the canvas backand enters on the front of the canvas 12 through an entry opening 48spaced from the exit opening 46 by a medial opening 50. The ribbon 14then spans a number of intermediate openings and exits from the front ofthe canvas 12 through an exit opening 52. The ribbon 14 is again twistedon the back side of the canvas 12 and passes to the front thereofthrough an entry opening 54 spaced from the exit opening 52 by a medialopening 56. It is seen that the exit opening 52, the medial opening 56and the entry opening 54 together define an axis aligned with the x axis30. The ribbon 14 then spans a number of intermediate openings beforepassing through an exit opening 58 to the canvas back. This technique isrepeated as often as desired to create as long a pattern of first ribbonsections 36 as desired. In addition, the resultant weave illustrated inFIG. 1 may be substantially tighter by eliminating the medial openings50, 56 so that the first ribbon sections 36 lie along adjacent rows ofmesh openings.

To create the second ribbon sections 38, the ribbon 14 is twisted on theback of the canvas 12 after passing through the final exit opening 58and passed to the canvas front through an initial entry opening 60. Theribbon 14 is then passed parallel to the x axis 30 alternately overlyingand underlying the first ribbon sections 36 on the front of the canvas12 and spans a number of intermediate openings 62 before passing throughan exit opening 64 to the back of the canvas 12. On the canvas back, theribbon 14 is twisted and passed through one of the intermediate openings44 which, in this circumstance, is also an entry opening. After passingthrough the opening 44, the ribbon 14 passes alternately over and underthe first ribbon sections 36 and passes from the front of the canvas 12through an exit opening 66. This technique is repeated for as long asdesired to create a sufficient number of second ribbon sections 38 tocompletely cover the canvas 12 between y axis margins 68 and x axismargins 70.

The ends of the ribbon 14 are conveniently tied off on the back of thecanvas 12 in any suitable fashion. For example, at one end of theribbon, it may be tied to the canvas 12 prior to threading the ribbon 14through the mesh fabric and the other end tied off when the free portionof the ribbon 14 becomes too short to continue threading.

Because the ribbon 14 does not pass through the canvas 12 except at theends of the rows of the first and second ribbon sections 36, 38, it isevident that the pattern illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is relativelyquick and simple to do but has the disadvantage that the body of ribbonis not attached to the canvas 12 except at the periphery of theneedlework done thereon.

Several features should be evident from the stitch of FIGS. 1 and 2which differentiate this invention from conventional needlepoint. First,the first and second ribbon sections 36, 38 are flat and untwisted onthe front of the canvas 12. Second, the ribbon 14 is nowhere split,which is here used to mean that the ribbon 14 never passes throughitself. Third, the ribbon sections 36, 38 extend in the direction of they and x axes 30, 28, respectively. .Iadd.

Stated in a slightly different fashion, the equally-spaced strands 18 ofthe needlework canvas lying along the x axis and the equally-spacedstrands 20 lying along the y axis define a multiplicity of mesh openingsof generally identical substantially square configuration. The ribbonsections 36 and 38 completely cover the canvas front within the marginsof the needlework ribbon piece on the canvas. One side of each "y-axis"ribbon section 36 overlies and conceals a "y-axis" canvas strand 18, andeach of the other two sides of each y-axis ribbon section 36 overliesand conceals an x-axis strand 20 which defines the entry or exit openingat the end of the ribbon section. In this fashion, the canvas front iscompletely covered between the margins of the needleworked piece whichare defined by the exit and entry openings. Referring to the firsty-axis ribbon section 36 in FIG. 2 which extends from the opening 42 tothe opening 46, its longitudinal sides overlie the second and thirdy-axis strands of the canvas in FIG. 2 (the third and fourth y-axisstrands of the canvas in FIG. 1), and the transverse sides of the ribbonsection overlie the third and eighth x-axis strands in FIG. 2 (the thirdand ninth in FIG. 1) which define the entry and exit openings 42 and 46,respectively. In a similar fashion, the final x-axis ribbon section 38in FIG. 2 has its longitudinal sides overlying the third and fourthx-axis strands of the canvas and its transverse sides overlyingrespectively the second and seventh y-axis strand. In this embodiment ofthe invention, the x-axis and y-axis ribbon sections are interwoven overthe top surface of the canvas with the sides of the ribbon sectionssuperimposed as shown. The transverse sides of each of the y-axis ribbonsections 36 either overlie or underlie the longitudinal sides of thefirst and last x-axis ribbon sections 38, and the longitudinal sides ofeach of the y-axis ribbon sections 36 underlie the transverse sides ofalternate x-axis ribbon sections 38 on one side and overlie thetransverse sides of the intermediate x-axis ribbon sections 38 on theother side. .Iaddend.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, another stitch is illustrated in a completedneedlework piece 72 comprising a needlework canvas 74 as will be morefully explained hereinafter.

The needlework canvas 74 is substantially identical to the canvas 12 andcomprises a multiplicity of generally perpendicular relatively stiffstrands 80, 82 defining a multiplicity of generally identicalsubstantially square mesh openings. The sides of the openings extendalong generally perpendicular x and y axes 84, 86.

As is apparent from the completed needlework piece 72 in FIG. 3, theribbon 76 comprises a plurality of flat untwisted first ribbon sections88 on the front of the canvas 74 extending in the direction of the xaxis 84. The ribbon 76 in the completed piece 72 also comprises aplurality of flat untwisted second ribbon sections 90 extending in thedirection of the y axis 86. As will become more fully apparent, theadjacent ribbon sections act to cover the area of entry to the front ofthe canvas 74 and act to cover the area of exit from the canvas front.Accordingly, the resultant pattern on the front of the piece 72 appearsto be continuous. In addition, the ribbon 76 is connected to the canvas74 at many locations within the periphery of the completed piece 72.

As illustrated in somewhat different scale in FIGS. 4 and 5, the layingdown of the first ribbon sections 88 is accomplished by threading theribbon 76 through the canvas 74 in the direction illustrated by thearrows beginning with the arrow 92. The ribbon 74 accordingly passesonto the front of the canvas 74 through an entrance opening 94 andpasses to the canvas back through an exit opening 96 spaced from theentrance opening 94 by a single intermediate opening 98. After passingto the back of the canvas 74, the ribbon 76 is twisted to pass to thecanvas front 74 through an entry opening 100, spans an intermediateopening and then passes to the canvas back through an exit opening 102.This technique is repeated to lay down a plurality of the first ribbonsections 88 on a diagonal with each of the ribbon sections extending inthe direction of the y axis 86. At the end of the diagonal, the ribbon14 passes through an exit opening 104 to the canvas back and is thentwisted and passed through an entrance opening 106 offset from the exitopening 104. The ribbon 76 is then passed into an exit opening 108spaced from the entrance opening 106 by a single intermediate opening110. The ribbon 76 is then twisted and passed through an entranceopening 112 to the canvas front, extended across an intermediate openingand then passed through an exit opening to the canvas back. The secondribbon sections 90 are accordingly laid down on a diagonal with eachindividual section 90 extending in the direction of the x axis 84.

It is evident that the terminology of entry opening, intermediateopening and exit opening is somewhat confusing as is apparent uponconsideration of the opening 108. Relative to the first ribbon section88, the opening 108 is an intermediate opening. Relative to the secondribbon section 90 that spans the intermediate opening 110, the opening108 is an exit opening. Relative to a ribbon section that spans theopening 114, the opening 108 is an entry opening. In any event, it willbe evident that any opening in the canvas 74 which is spaced from theperiphery of the laid down ribbon 76 may be an entry opening, an exitopening and an intermediate opening. .Iadd.Inspection of FIGS. 3-5reveals that between the margins of the needleworked piece, each entryand exit opening for an x-axis ribbon section is an intermediate openingfor a y-axis ribbon section, and conversely, each entry and exit openingfor a y-axis ribbon section is an intermediate opening for an x-axisribbon section. .Iaddend.Accordingly, the ribbon section which overlieseach .Iadd.intermediate .Iaddend.opening acts to conceal the.[.entrance.]. .Iadd.entry .Iaddend.and exit areas thereof because thewidth of the ribbon is at least as great as the length of the openingsides. Consequently, the canvas 74 is completely covered between x axismargins 116 and y axis margins 118. .Iadd.

The x-axis and y-axis ribbon sections of FIG. 3 each extend over asingle intermediate opening, the longitudinal sides of each x-axisribbon section overlying the x-axis strands defining the intermediateopening and the transverse sides of each x-axis ribbon section overlyingthe y-axis strands defining the intermediate opening. The diagonalarrangement of the sections juxtaposes the longitudinal sides of eachx-axis ribbon section with the transverse sides of a different y-axissection and vice versa. In this fashion, the x-axis ribbon sections areexposed alternately with the y-axis ribbon sections in each transverseand longitudinal row of mesh openings. Furthermore, interiorly of themargins of the piece, each ribbon section is juxtaposed by four ribbonsections extending in the direction of the other axis, and, in theembodiment of FIG. 3, is wholly bordered by such sections. .Iaddend.

In FIG. 5 there is schematically illustrated a ribbon path 120corresponding to a modestly sized section of completed needleworking bythe stitch of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, another stitch is illustrated in a completedneedlework piece 122 comprising a needlework canvas 124 and a ribbon 126worked through the openings in the canvas 124 as will be more fullyexplained hereinafter.

The needlework canvas 124 may be substantially identical to the canvas12 and comprises a multiplicity of generally perpendicular relativelystiff strands 128, 130 defining a multiplicity of generally identicalsubstantially square mesh openings. The sides of the openings extendalong generally perpendicular x and y axes 134, 132. Although theillustration of FIG. 6 appears to be substantially the same size as theillustrations of FIGS. 1 and 3, a sample made of the embodiment of FIG.3 utilized a canvas having a centerline distance of 0.3 inches and aribbon width of 0.3 inches. In the sample according to FIG. 6, thecenterline distance between adjacent strands 128, 130 was about 0.1inches while the ribbon width was on the order of 0.125 inches.

The stitch of FIG. 6 differs in two respects from the stitch of FIG. 1.First, the ribbon 126 is somewhat wider than the length 136 of the sideof the openings. In addition, the ribbon 126 in the completed needleworkpiece 122 is connected to the canvas 124 at a number of locations insidethe margins of the completed piece 122.

As is apparent from the completed needlework piece 122 in FIG. 6, theribbon 126 comprises a plurality of flat untwisted first ribbon sections138 on the canvas front extending in the direction of the x axis 134.The adjacent ribbon sections act to cover the area of entry of theribbon 126 to the front of the canvas 124 and act to cover the area ofexit from the canvas from at least away from the edge of the completedpiece 122. Accordingly, the result of the pattern on the front of thepiece 122 appears to be continuous. In addition, the ribbon 126 isconnected to the canvas 124 at many locations within the periphery ofthe completed piece 122.

Although it is believed easier to lay down the ribbon sections 138first, it is evident that the sections 140 may be laid down first ifdesired. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the laying down of the first ribbonsections 138 is accomplished by threading the ribbon 126 through thecanvas 124 in the direction illustrated by the arrows beginning with thearrow 142. The ribbon 126 accordingly passes onto the front of thecanvas 124 through an entrance opening 148 and passes to the canvas backthrough an exit opening 146 spaced from the entrance opening 148 by asingle intermediate opening. After passing along the back of the canvas124 across a single intermediate opening, the ribbon 126 extends throughan entrance opening 150, spans an intermediate opening 152 and passes tothe canvas back through an exit opening 154. This technique of spanninga single intermediate opening on the front of the canvas 124 and then asingle intermediate opening on the back side is repeated until theribbon approaches the desired margin of the completed piece 122. Afterexiting from the canvas front at the last exit opening, for exampleopening 154, the ribbon 126 extends along the canvas back and is twisteddiagonally across a medial opening 156 and passes onto the front of thecanvas 124 through an entry opening 158 wherein the openings 156, 158reside in a row of openings parallel to the openings 152, 154 and areimmediately adjacent thereto. Ribbon 126 then spans the front side ofthe intermediate opening 156 and passes from the front side of thecanvas 124 through an opening 160. The technique of spanning anintermediate opening on the canvas front and then spanning anintermediate opening on the canvas back is repeated with the firstribbon sections 138 in adjacent rows being diagonally related. Thistechnique is repeated as desired to lay down a multiplicity of the firstribbon sections 138 with each of the ribbon sections extending in thedirection of the x axis 134.

The laying down of the second ribbon sections 140 is accomplished bythreading the ribbon 126 through the canvas 124 along the y axis 132 inthe direction indicated by the arrows beginning with the arrow 162. Theribbon 126 passes onto the front of the canvas 124 through an entryopening 164. The ribbon 126 is then passed parallel to the y axis 132immediately above the plane of the canvas 124 thereby underlying all ofthe first ribbon sections 138. It will accordingly be apparent that amajor distinction between the stitches of FIGS. 1 and 6 is that, in FIG.1, the second ribbon sections 38 alternately overlie and underlie thefirst ribbon sections 36 and each row of ribbon sections 36 resides onthe front side of the canvas 12. In the stitch of FIGS. 6 and 7, aribbon segment residing parallel to the x axis 134 is alternately on thefront side of the canvas 124 and on the back side thereof.

Another major distinction between the stitches of FIGS. 1 and 6 is thatthe stitch of FIG. 6 incorporates curling of the ribbon 126 as it passesdownwardly through an exit opening, such as the opening 174, and curlingof the ribbon 126 as it passes through an entrance opening, such as theopening 176. This is caused, of course, because the width of the ribbon126 is somewhat larger than the length of the mesh opening sides of thecanvas 124. Even though the edges of the ribbon sections 138 are curled,they are considered flat and untwisted because the sections 138 are flatand untwisted immediately above the ribbon segment providing thesections 140. In addition, the axis of the sections 138 is untwisted.

I claim:
 1. A method of making a needleworked ribbon piece on aneedlework canvas having a front, a back and a multiplicity of equallyspaced interconnected strands lying along perpendicular x and y axes anddefining a multiplicity of mesh openings, comprisingfirst steps forlaying up a multiplicity of first flat untwisted ribbon sections on thefront of said canvas extending in the direction of the x axis; secondsteps for laying up a multiplicity of second flat untwisted ribbonsections on the front of the canvas extending in the direction of the yaxis for completely covering the canvas front between margins of thepiece; the steps includingjuxtaposing, inside the margins, four sides ofeach first section to a side of a different second section, juxtaposing,inside the margins, four sides of each second ribbon section to a sideof a different first section; and securing the ribbon ends to the piece.2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first steps compriserepeatedlypassing a ribbon end through first mesh openings to the canvas frontthen to the canvas back through second mesh openings spaced from thefirst mesh openings along the x axis by at least one intermediate x axismesh opening; repeatedly manipulating the ribbon to lay the first flatuntwisted sections across the intermediate x axis openings in thedirection of the x axis; and tensioning the first sections.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 wherein the second steps compriserepeatedly passing aribbon end through third mesh openings to the canvas front then to thecanvas back through fourth mesh openings spaced from the third meshopenings along the y axis by at least one intermediate y axis opening;repeatedly manipulating the ribbon to lay the second flat untwistedsections across the intermediate y axis mesh openings in the directionof the y axis; and tensioning the second sections.
 4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein the step of repeatedly passing the ribbon end across theintermediate x axis mesh openings comprisesrepeatedly passing the ribbonend through the first mesh openings to the canvas front then to thecanvas back through second mesh openings spaced from the first meshopenings along the x axis by a single intermediate x axis mesh opening.5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of repeatedly passing theribbon end across the intermediate y axis mesh openingscomprisesrepeatedly passing the ribbon end through the third meshopenings to the canvas front then to the canvas back through fourth meshopenings spaced from the third mesh openings along the y axis by asingle intermediate y axis mesh opening.
 6. The method of claim 3wherein the step of repeatedly passing the ribbon end across theintermediate x axis mesh openings comprisespassing the ribbon endthrough the first mesh opening to the canvas front then to the canvasback through the second mesh opening spaced from the first mesh openingalong the x axis by a single intermediate x axis mesh opening, andtwisting the ribbon on the back of the canvas and passing the ribbon endthrough a first mesh opening adjacent the last mentioned intermediate xaxis opening and spaced therefrom along the y axis to the canvas frontthen to the canvas back through a second mesh opening spaced from thefirst mesh opening along the x axis by a single intermediate x axisopening.
 7. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of repeatedly passingthe ribbon end across the intermediate x axis mesh openingscomprisespassing the ribbon end through the first mesh opening to thecanvas front then to the canvas back through the second mesh openingspaced from the first mesh opening by a single intermediate x axis meshopening, and then passing the ribbon end through a first mesh openingadjacent the last mentioned second mesh opening and spaced therefromalong the x axis to the canvas front through a second mesh openingspaced from the first mesh opening along the x axis by a singleintermediate x axis opening.
 8. The method of claim 3 wherein the stepof repeatedly passing the ribbon end across the intermediate x axis meshopenings comprisesrepeatedly passing the ribbon end through the firstmesh openings to the canvas front then to the canvas back through secondmesh openings spaced from the first mesh openings along the x axis by amultiplicity of intermediate x axis mesh openings.
 9. The method ofclaim 8 wherein the step of repeatedly passing the ribbon end across theintermediate y axis mesh openings comprisesrepeatedly passing the ribbonend through the third mesh openings to the canvas front then to thecanvas back through fourth mesh openings spaced from the third meshopenings along the y axis by a multiplicity of intermediate x axis meshopenings, including alternately passing the ribbon end over and underthe first ribbon sections.
 10. A needlework piece comprisinga needleworkcanvas having a multiplicity of perpendicular strands defining generallyidentical mesh openings, the strands extending along perpendicular x andy axes and being small relative to the openings; and a ribbon having awidth between 1-2 times the distance between the centers of adjacentparallel strands; the ribbon extending through a multiplicity of firstmesh entry openings to a multiplicity of front surface positions on thecanvas, then to a multiplicity of back surface positions on the canvasthrough a multiplicity of second mesh exit openings, each first meshopening being spaced from the second mesh opening by at least oneintermediate mesh opening, the first, intermediate and second openingsbeing parallel to one of the axes; the ribbon extending through amultiplicity of third mesh entry openings to a multiplicity of frontsurface positions on the canvas, then to a multiplicity of back surfacepositions on the canvas through a multiplicity of fourth mesh exitopenings, each third mesh opening being spaced from the fourth meshopenings by at least one intermediate mesh opening, the third,intermediate and fourth openings being parallel to the other of theaxes; the ribbon providing a multiplicity of first and second flatuntwisted ribbon sections across the intermediate mesh openings on thefront surface of the canvas; the first and second ribbon sections beingalternately exposed on the canvas front; the first and second ribbonsections extending in the directions of the x and y axes respectivelyand completely covering the canvas front between margins of the piece;and each ribbon section spaced interiorly of the margins extending inthe direction of one axis and being juxtaposed by four ribbon sectionsextending in the direction of the other axis.
 11. The needlework pieceof claim 10 wherein the ribbon repeatedly extends from the front surfaceof the canvas to the rear surface thereof within the margins of thepiece.
 12. The needlework piece of claim 10 wherein the entrance andexit openings of at least some of the first ribbon sections are at leastpartially covered by adjacent second ribbon sections.
 13. The needleworkpiece of claim 10 wherein each ribbon section spaced interiorly of themargins extending in the direction of one axis being wholly.[.boarded.]. .Iadd.bordered .Iaddend.by four ribbon sections extendingin the direction of the other axis.
 14. The needlework piece of claim 10wherein the first and second mesh openings are spaced apart by amultiplicity of intermediate openings.
 15. The needlepoint piece ofclaim 14 wherein the third and fourth mesh opening are spaced apart by amultiplicity of intermediate openings.
 16. The needlepoint piece ofclaim 14 wherein the third and fourth mesh openings are spaced apart bya single intermediate opening.
 17. The needlepoint piece of claim 10wherein the first and second mesh openings are spaced apart by a singleintermediate opening.
 18. The needlepoint piece of claim 10 wherein thethird and fourth mesh openings are spaced apart by a single intermediateopening. .Iadd.
 19. A method of making a needleworked ribbon piece on aneedlework canvas having a front, a back and a multiplicity ofinterconnected strands lying along perpendicular x and y axes anddefining a multiplicity of mesh openings, comprisingfirst steps forlaying up a multiplicity of first flat untwisted ribbon sections on thefront of said canvas extending in the direction of the x axes; secondsteps for laying up a multiplicity of second flat untwisted ribbonsections on the front of the canvas extending in the direction of the yaxes; and third steps including securing the ribbon ends to the piece;each said first step comprising the passing a ribbon end from the backto the front of said canvas through an x-axis entry mesh opening betweenpair of adjacent x-axis strands, passing the ribbon end on the front ofsaid canvas across at least one intermediate x-axis opening between saidpair of adjacent x-axis strands, and passing the ribbon end from thefront to the back of said canvas through an x-axis exit opening betweensaid pair of adjacent x-axis strands beyond said x-axis intermediateopening to provide an untwisted x-axis ribbon section extending betweensaid x-axis entry and exit openings, each said second step comprisingthe passing a ribbon end from the back to the front of said canvasthrough an y-axis entry mesh opening between pair of adjacent y-axisstrands, passing the ribbon end on the front of said canvas across atleast one intermediate y-axis opening between said pair of adjacenty-axis strands, and passing the ribbon end from the front to the back ofsaid canvas through an y-axis exit opening between said pair of adjacenty-axis strands beyond said y-axis intermediate opening to provide anuntwisted y-axis ribbon section extending between said y-axis entry andexit openings, at least some of said x-axis entry and exit openingsbeing y-axis intermediate openings, and at least some of said y-axisentry and exit openings being x-axis intermediate openings, whereby saiduntwisted x-axis ribbon sections conceal the underlying y-axis entry andexit openings, and said untwisted y-axis ribbon sections conceal theunderlying x-axis entry and exit openings. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 20. A methodaccording to claim 19 wherein at least selected x-axis and y-axis ribbonsections extend through the same length, the intermediate and the exitopenings for one ribbon section of a given type being alongsiderespectively the entry and the intermediate openings for the adjacentribbon section of the same type on one side, and the entry and anintermediate opening for said one ribbon section being alongsiderespectively the intermediate and exit openings for the adjacent ribbonsection of the same type on the other side, whereby said ribbon sectionsof each type are disposed in diagonal rows with respect to the x and yaxes of the canvas. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 21. A method according to claim 20wherein each of said selected ribbon sections is passed across a singleintermediate opening between its entry and exit openings..Iaddend..Iadd.
 22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said selectedy-axis ribbon sections in one diagonal row utilize as y-axis entryopenings the x-axis intermediate openings for the selected x-axis ribbonsections in a diagonal row adjacent thereto. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 23. Amethod according to claim 21 wherein said selected x-axis ribbonsections in one diagonal row utilize as x-axis entry openings the y-axisintermediate openings for the selected y-axis ribbon sections in adiagonal row adjacent thereto. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 24. A needlework piececomprisinga needlework canvas having a multiplicity of perpendicularstrands defining mesh openings, the strands extending alongperpendicular x and y axes and being small relative to the openings; anda ribbon having a width between 1-2 times the distance between thecenters of adjacent parallel strands; the ribbon extending through amultiplicity of first mesh entry openings to a multiplicity of frontsurface positions on the canvas, then to a multiplicity of back surfacepositions on the canvas through a multiplicity of second mesh exitopenings, each first mesh opening being spaced from its associatedsecond mesh opening along the x-axis by at least one intermediate meshopening, the first, intermediate and second openings being aligned withthe x-axes; the ribbon extending through a multiplicity of third meshentry openings to a multiplicity of front surface positions on thecanvas, then to a multiplicity of back surface positions on the canvasthrough a multiplicity of fourth mesh exit openings, each third meshopening being spaced from its associated fourth mesh opening along they-axis by at least one intermediate mesh opening, the third,intermediate and fourth openings being aligned with the y-axes; and theribbon providing a multiplicity of x-axis and y-axis flat untwistedribbon sections across the intermediate mesh openings on the frontsurface of the canvas; said first and second mesh openings for thex-axis sections constituting intermediate openings for the y-axissections, and said third and fourth mesh openings for the y-axissections constituting intermediate openings for the x-axis sections..Iaddend.